This blog was started on the 1st of May 2007 and aims to provide information about the birds of Islay.

Monday, 30 January 2017

Monday 30th January

Yesterday was the "Big Garden Birdwatch", so James came over and helped out.. so here are our birds, 10 Pheasant, 1 Robin, 3 Dunnock, 47 Starling, 2 Blackbird, 1 Song Thrush, 2 Great Tit,9 Goldfinch, 3 Wren, 14 House Sparrow, 125 Chaffinch, 41 Jackdaw and a Buzzard. Down in Bruichladdich, Malcolm had 52 House Sparrows, 24 Collared Doves but only 18 Chaffinches. Bob up behind Port Charlotte had more Chaffinches, some Greenfinches, a Coal Tit, 2 Blue Tit as well as other birds too, so quite a change in birds seen, all in a relatively small area. Jim Dickson counted 160 Chaffinch in his garden, Jim lives over at Cairnbaan while friends out in Bearsden on the outskirts of Glasgow has different birds again, with Blackcap, Greater spotted Woodpecker and the neighbourhood fox as well... Michal had counted 1,610 Golden Plover over above the reserve at Gruinart on Saturday. he saw them there yesterday with Dave Maynard saw them again present there today.

Tomorrow evening, it is the bird nerds annual meal, again to be held in the Lochside hotel. So far there are 21 folk coming, so if you are around and wish to come, please let me know so the staff at the hotel are ready for us...